title: Cetuximab in combination with chemoradiation after induction chemotherapy of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article aimed to determine treatment compliance, acute toxicities and the short-term curative effects of combining cetuximab with chemoradiation following induction chemotherapy of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 patients with locoregionally advanced NPC were scheduled to receive one cycle of induction chemotherapy followed by intensity-modulated radiotherapy, weekly administration of cetuximab and concurrent chemotherapy (at least two cycles with a limit of six).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 21 patients completed the planned radiotherapy, 14 patients (67%) without treatment breaks, and 20 patients (95.2%) completed the planned cetuximab therapy. Grade 4 toxicities included leukopenia (seven patients; 33.4%), neutropenia (three patients; 14.3%), thrombocytopenia (one patient; 4.8%) and acneiform rash (one patient; 4.8%). Over a median follow-up period of 13 months (range: 3-23 months), the local, regional and distant control rates were 100, 100 and 95.2%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetuximab in combination with intensity-modulated radiotherapy and chemoradiation is a feasible strategy against locoregionally advanced NPC. Preliminary survival data are encouraging compared with historic data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 42# Baiziting, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, 210009, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wenjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xuesong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zong
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma; D000068818:Cetuximab; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D055118:Medication Adherence; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000068818:Cetuximab